.png)
How old are you and what do you do?
I am 36 years old, a sixth generation Texan, and made Elgin my home five years ago. I have worked for the Texas Water Development Board, a state agency, for the last 10 years and currently work as a Water Data Scientist and Coordinator. My job is to ensure data needed for decision making is easy to find, access and use. I also work once a week down at the local waterin’ hole the Lightnin’ Bar. On Wednesday nights, come say hi.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I believe my experience in community planning and dedication to public service makes me an ideal candidate for Council. I have over 15 years of experience in data analysis focused in Texas and have lead several projects to make government data, maps and information easier to find. I am also a Certified Texas Contract Manager, trained in procurement and contracting rules and regulations. The core foundation of my work in public service is rooted in community outreach and engagement and that is the energy I plan to bring to Council as well.
If elected, what will be your main priority?
Strong communities do not wait for challenges to present themselves and react. Instead, they build a strong foundation of planning and decision making. Elgin is approaching a fork in the road where we can choose to actively start planning for our long term growth or we can let growth be directed by developers. My main priority if elected will be to start a process to develop a longterm comprehensive plan for Elgin. A comprehensive plan can provide the vision, goals, objectives and actions necessary to direct the city’s long-range growth and development. This plan would serve as an official policy document that is a guide for policy decisions relating to the physical, social and economic growth of the community. However, for a plan to work, it has to be routed in community input and have processes for updating annually.
What is the biggest issue facing Elgin at the moment?
Bastrop county is projected to add 30,000 new residents by 2030 and many of those new neighbors will find themselves in or within a few miles of Elgin. The city of Elgin presented a growth report at the Nov. 14, 2023 meeting. The report summarized development agreements already under contract with the city without taking into account increased density or future agreements. Under those current agreements the community and surrounding area will grow to close to 50,000 in the next 10 years. While this report is a good start, we need better estimates of population projections and growth potential for planning. I spent five years of my career developing methodologies to project populations for all communities in Texas and when on council, I hope to aid the planning department in developing more wholistic population projections for the city.
Why are you running?
I grew up in a town like Elgin, and after 15 years in Austin, I missed the community and closeness of small-town Texas, and I am so happy I made it out east in 2019. I’ve watched the town where I grew up change into yet another commuter- suburb of Dallas, and I am running for City Council to help ensure Elgin not suffer that same fate. Elgin is such a special place and I want to do everything I can to maintain our town’s culture, so we won’t suffer the fate of yet another strip-mall suburb.
Why should people vote for you?
I believe in a collaborative approach to problem-solving in government, one that is rooted in community input and bottom-up planning. I think complex problems, like the growth coming to Elgin, require complex solutions with input from all backgrounds. I hope to apply my skillsets from public service and leverage ideas from the community to find solutions that will have the most benefit for the city.
Why should voters trust you?
Trust is earned and I hope I can earn Elgin’s. I would encourage any voter interested to learn more about my background, interest or goals for Elgin to visit the website I put together, Bit.ly/TaylorWard3. I want to hear your hopes and concerns for our town, and overtime hopefully build your trust as well.
